The factional leader of the Labour Party, Lamidi Apapa has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the legal counsels representing the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, to brief him on the ongoing election petitions tribunal.
Apapa’s ultimatum is coming hours after the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ruled in his favour as the acting national chairman of the party.
In his ruling, Justice Hamza Muazu disclosed that he will go ahead to hear the substantive matter.
The matter has been adjourned to Friday, May 19, for further deliberation.
Apapa, who recently held a parallel meeting of the National Executive Council in Bauchi, spoke on the ruling in a viral video shared on Twitter.
He said, “I am so pleased that justice has taken place today. There is no doubt that I am now in charge. It has now been confirmed by the court that I have the right to be in charge until another order takes place.
“As of today, I am the acting national chairman of the party and any other person that parades himself as the chairman is doing so illegally.
“I want to invite all the lawyers that are in charge, representing Labour Party at the election tribunal, to give me updates in the next 48 hours because I am the one in charge and the one in the driver’s seat.”
Recall that the court had stopped the embattled chairman, Julius Abure, and three others from parading themselves as executives of the party.
After Abure’s suspension, Apapa who was then the national vice chairman for the South was declared the acting chairman of LP.